Your Pregnancy
Finding out you are pregnant is one of the most exciting and daunting times of your life, even if you have been preparing for it for some time. Get ready for the rollercoaster ride of pregnancy on the road to parenthood.
Once you have confirmed your pregnancy you can check out some of the common complaints you may suffer from over the coming months and also ways of managing morning sickness.
week by week guide
The next 40 weeks of your life will be an amazing time. Our Huggies Week by Week Guide will follow your journey to parenthood and take you through the changes that are happening to both you and your baby. The miracle of life as it unfolds is incredible; we hope you enjoy the ride.
This is a guide to what you can expect from your pregnancy each week and should not replace the care you will receive from your chosen health professional. Remember that every woman and indeed every pregnancy is unique; our week by week guide hopes to reflect the general development of your baby and your pregnancy. If you are in any doubt about the health of you or your baby, immediately seek the advice of your health professional.
week 1 - 4
week 1
Your pregnancy is measured from the first day of your last menstrual period (LMP); this assumes your menstrual cycle is 28 days in length. If you know when you ovulate, your adjusted date is from when you ovulate plus 14 days. This means that the average gestation for a baby is really only about 38 weeks. During this week you should be maintaining your intake of folic acid, your healthy eating plan, a moderate intake of alcohol and your usual exercise regime.
If you have been trying to conceive for some time, this week can be extremely disappointing as the first signs of your period start. Another way to look at this event is to picture your uterus being cleansed in preparation for another cycle.
week 2
This is the fun week, where you get to put all the planning into practise. Ovulation usually happens each month, and at the same time the lining of your womb becomes engorged with blood ready to receive and nourish the expectant embryo, also your bodies hormones begin to rise in preparation of supporting a pregnancy. Fertilisation occurs within 12-48 hours of your egg being released if the sperm are successful in penetrating the egg. It is at this time that the sex of your baby is determined. If possible it is a good idea to know when you are ovulating. One major sign of ovulation is a change to your mucus. It becomes thin and clear, and looks and feels a little bit like egg white. To be exact you can use an ovulation test kit, which are available from your local pharmacy.
Here are some hints for trying for a boy or a girl.
Trying for a boy – Having sex on the day, or just after you ovulate has a greater chance of conceiving a boy as boy sperm are faster swimmers but do not have a very long life span. Boys have an X and Y chromosome.
Trying for a girl – Having sex a few days before you are due to ovulate has a greater chance of creating a girl as girl sperm are longer lasting and take a little longer to move up the fallopian tube where they will meet your egg. Girls have two X-chromosomes.
Some people also report that using different positions during lovemaking can affect the sex of your child. Why not try a few and make it interesting.
week 3you
Try not to think and worry too much about whether you were successful in fertilising your egg; it's now a little out of your hands. Remember to maintain your folic acid intake and keep up your healthy lifestyle. The lining of your uterus is continuing to thicken and is secreting a lot of nutritious fluid all in preparation of accepting an embryo for implantation. At the time of implantation, which usually occurs 7 – 12 days after fertilisation, some women report a tiny streak of blood in their cervical mucus.
your baby
During the weeks after fertilisation, the single cell that will become your baby quickly multiplies into over a hundred cells and forms a “Blastocyst”. The blastocyst is formed of two layers, these eventually separate with the outer one forming the placenta and the inner layer becomes your embryo. This moves down the fallopian tube and floats freely in your uterus for a number of days. Implantation usually occurs 7-12 days after fertilisation and your growing baby is now attached to the lining of your womb.
week 4
you
If you have been trying to conceive, this week can feel as if time is dragging by. You may notice some slight body changes, but these can often be mistaken for normal pre-menstrual symptoms. At the end of this week your first sign that you may be pregnant is a missed period and your most likely first step is a Home Pregnancy Test. These tests work by detecting the hormone, Human Chorionic Gonadotrophin (hCG) found in your urine.
Since most women choose not to share their news with anyone but their partner in the early weeks, let the team at Huggies be one of the first to say “CONGRATULATIONS”. You have a very exciting 36 weeks ahead of you and we hope we can help you along the way with some useful information from our website.
To find out your estimated date of delivery (EDD) simply follow the directions on our Estimated Date of Delivery Chart.
Here are some important things for you to consider now that you are pregnant:
- The amount of alcohol you are drinking should be restricted.
- Stop smoking, this can lead to developmental problems for your child.
- If you are not taking folic acid already, start now. There is evidence to show that taking Folic Acid even in the first three months of pregnancy can decrease the risk of neural tube defects. Although it is better to start a few months before falling pregnant. Your folic acid supplement should be 500mgm.
- If you are using any herbal preparations or herbal teas, seek some clarification before you continue to use them as some of these can cause problems in pregnancy.
- Check with your GP and pharmacist about any medications you are currently taking.
your baby
By the end of this week the mass of cells embedded in your uterus are rapidly multiplying and grouping together to form different structures, the placenta, the amniotic sac and various parts of your baby's body. The pregnancy is still microscopic and cannot be seen on ultrasound. However, a pregnancy may be confirmed by ultrasound because of the thickened lining of the uterus. Although ultrasound is not routinely used at this stage of pregnancy.
week 5 -8
week 5
you
Some women find it hard to come to terms with the concept they are developing a baby inside them. It's not unusual to feel apprehensive about the months and years ahead of you. Take time to talk to your partner and include them in your thoughts, they are probably feeling as apprehensive as you are. You may both be worrying about continuing with your usual sex life. Unless you have a history of miscarriage or are experiencing vaginal bleeding, go ahead and enjoy the time you have together. You have formed a mucus plug to cover your cervix; this protects and seals off your uterus completely. This plug will remain in place until near the end of your pregnancy when you may have what is known as “a show”. Once a pregnancy has been confirmed it has more than an 85% chance of being maintained.
There is a lot to consider in these early weeks of your pregnancy. One important aspect is your antenatal care. Now is a good time to decide where you would like to give birth and who you would like to be involved with your care during your pregnancy and birth of your baby. Your choice of hospital for the delivery should be made soon as these can also be difficult to get a booking for.
your baby
Your baby is now floating in the fluid in the amniotic sac. She is about 3mm long and her nervous system, spine and brain are already beginning to develop. By the end of this week it may be possible to detect your baby on an ultrasound but it is not routine to use ultrasound early in pregnancy.
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